Sweeping device



Oct. 16, 1951 T. o. ADAMS 2,571,647

SWEEPING DEVICE Filed 001:. 24, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 2a AW-a1- IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 16, 1951 o, ADAMS 2,571,647

SWEEPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 24, 1 945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Oct. 16, 1951 ADAMS 2,571,647

SWEEPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 24, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

My invention relates to sweepers and cleaners such as power operated vacuum cleaners and manually operated carpet sweepers.

Vacuum cleaners to which my invention is directed, are those having brushes for sweeping the carpet, rug, or other surface to be cleaned in addition to the suction producing apparatus. The carpet sweepers to which my invention is directed, have brushes extending downwardly from the sweeper and moved during the operation of the sweeper to sweep the carpet, rug, or other surface to be cleaned. To illustrate and describe the preferred embodiment of my invention, I show and describe it in connection with an electric vacuum sweeper or cleaner.

An object of my invention is the provision of a sweeper mechanism giving improved and heretofore unobtainable results in operation.

Another object is the provision of a sweeping mechanism which affords a sweeping action that is more efii-cient.

Another object is the provision of a sweeping mechanism which moves in a sweeping action against the surface to be cleaned without rotation of the brush.

Another object is the provision of a sweeper which does not cause a winding, ensnarling, and entwining of string, thread, hair, yarn, and other elongated material around and about the brush of the sweeper.

Another object is the provision of a sweeper having such a sweeping action as to cause string, thread, hair, yarn, and other elongated material to ball up or wad into small compact masses without becoming ensnarled in the brush.

Another object is the provision of a sweeping mechanism which has a brush which is nonrotative and yet movable in a good sweeping action against the surface to be cleaned.

Another object is the provision of a brush in a cleaner so operated and mounted as to cause the brush to oscillate or vibrate with respect to the surface to be cleaned.

Another object is the improvement of the means for mounting a brush member in a cleaner and for driving the movement of the brush member.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is the front view of the housing or casing of an electric vacuum cleaner embodying a preferred embodiment of my invention, with a portion of the housing cut away to illustrate the structure and disposition of the parts;

Figure 2 is a side view of the cleaner or sweeper shown in Figure 1 and is a view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the long bars or brush members utilized in my invention, there being two of these bars or brush members mounted in the cleaner shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a side view of the bar or brush member shown in Figure 3 and shows the brush brush member and is a view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged View of the inner end of the brush member and is a View taken in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of Figure 4 with a portion of a pin shown in position in the mounting at that end; I

Figure '7 is an end view of the brush member shown in Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows 1---'! of Figure 4; a

Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the brush member shown in Figure 4 and illustrates the disposition of the parts therein;

Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the revolving pulley or wheel used to give motion to the two brush members mounted in the cleaner shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 10 is a side view of the pulley or wheel which operates the brush members and is a view looking in the direction of the arrows l0l0 of Figure 9; and

Figures 11, 12, and 13 illustrate a modified form of construction for securing the pivot connection of the brush members to the housing of the cleaner.

In Figures 1 and 2 there is shown an electric vacuum cleaner embodying the preferred form of my invention. The cleaner has a housing or casing 20 of usual shape and size. -A top portion 2! on the housing 20 is adapted to contain'a motor and fan mechanism for producing the usual vacuum effect for the cleaner. The housing 2i has an outlet 22 adapted to communicate with a container for the dirt and other foreign material gathered by the cleaner. A handle is secured to the cleaner by bails 23 in the usual manner. Front wheels 24 and rear wheels 25 support the housing as the cleaner is moved to and fro along a carpet, rug, or other surface to be cleaned. The casing 20 has an open bottom 26 above and near the carpet, rug, or other surface to be cleaned. The housing 20 is thus supported slightly above the surface to be cleaned with the open bottom 26 just over the surface. The direction of the movement of the cleaner is to the left and to the right in Figure 2. As the surface to be cleaned is usually a horizontal plane and the cleaner is usually disposed over this surface, the opening 26 is referred to as a bottom opening. This term is not to be understood as a limitation as it is apparent that the cleaner may be used on surfaces disposed in many positions. As the movement of the cleaner to the left and to the right in Figure 2 is referred to, for convenience, as longitudinal movement of the cleaner, the view of Figure l.- is re': ferred to as having its parts arranged transversely of the cleaner housing.

Two bar members or brush members denoted generally by the reference character 21 are shown in Figures 1 and 2 as disposed substantially transversely of the housing '20. The brush members 21, two in number, are arranged substantially end to end across the housing 20 and substantially across the extent of the open bottom 26. A pivot or flexible connection denoted generally by the reference character 34 is contothe top central portion of each brush member 21. Each pivot connection 34 in turn is secured by a suitable nut and bolt engagein ent to the housing 20, the housing 20 being provided with a well or sunken portion 28 for this purpose. A suitable cap 29snaps into position over the well 28 to cover the same.

A revolving wheel or pulley denoted generally by the reference character 32 is mounted centrally of the housing 20 between the two brush members 21. The pulley 32 has a fixed bracket portion; 30 which is threadably secured in place .tothe housing 20, the bracket 36 having a flange portion 3| which engages the upper wall of the housing 20. j A belt 33 of rubber or other suitable material rides in a suitable groove in the pulley 32 and drives the pulley 32 by its action. The

driven end of the belt 33', not shown, is engaged around a drivin pulley or wheel driven by the electric motor of the cleaner or by other suitable driving means. Driving the belt 33 by a suitable driving arrangement causes the pulley 32 to be turned or rotated. Pin members 36 and 31, diametrically opposed and extending from opposite sides of the pulley 32, engage in adjoining ends of the two brush members 21 to impart motion thereto. A

Each brush member 21 has a brush portion 35 extending downwardly from its lower edge. As seenin the view of Figure 1, the lower edges of the brush or bar members 21 have portions inclined at an angle to each other and the brush portion 35 likewise has parts disposed at an angle to each other. The brush bristles forming the brush portion 35, are arranged in a substantially straight line and are disposed to be directed downwardly towards the surface to be cleaned. The brush bristles are thus aligned substantially perpendicular to the carpet, rug, or other surface being cleaned. By reason of the inclination of portions of the lower edge of the brush member 21 to each other, it is seen that substantially a half of the brush portion 35 on each brush member 21 extends downwardly through the open bottom 26 and in position to contact the surface to be cleaned. At the same time, the other half of each brush portion 35 is somewhat tilted up away -from the surface to be cleaned. During movement of the brush members 21 through the revolving of the pulley 32 to revolve the brush members 21 on the respective pivot connections 34, the brush members 21 are moved with respect to the surface to be cleaned but the bristles of the brush portion 35 are always directed generally down toward the surface to be cleaned.

One of the two bar or brush members 21 is illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 8, Figure 3 being a plan view, Figure 4 being a side view, and Figure 8 being a longitudinal sectional view. Each member 21" has a bar portion 39 extended longitudinally thereof and preferably made of aluminum or other suitable metal. The longitudinal bar portion 39 has two bottom edges 40 and 4| inclined at an angle to each other as illustrated in Figure- 4. The bristles of the brush portion 35 are clamped, cemented, or otherwise suitably secured to the bottom edges 40 and 4|, the brush portion 35 following the contour of the inclined edges 40 and 4 I.

The longitudinal bar portion 39 has an enlarged portion 42 located substantially centrally of the bar. The enlarged center portion 42 accommodates the pivot or flexible connection 34. The enlarged view of Figure 5 illustrates the structure and assembly of the pivot connection 34 and the enlarged center portion 42. An open space 45' extends downwardly in the enlarged center portion 42. A bolt 44, preferabl of steel and having ball-end 46, is positioned with the ball-end 46 down within the Open space 45 and the threaded portion or the bolt 44 extending upwardly therefrom. Annular member 41, preferably of bronze or other suitable bearing material, is threadably engaged through the enlarged portion 42'. The bearing member 41 locks the ball-end 46 in position as shown in Figures 5 and 8 but at the same time permits a ball-andsocket action between the enlarged portion 42 and the bolt 44. The annular member 41 holds the bolt locked in position but at the same time permits a pivot and flexible movement of the bolt 44 relative to the enlarged portion 42. An annular block 48 of resilient material, preferably live rubber, is placed over the annular member 41 and in the enlarged portion 42. A washer, preferably of steel, 49 fits over the rubber block 48 and around the bolt 44. A nut 50 threadably engaged to the bolt 44 holds the assembled parts in proper relationship to keep the block 48 slightly compressed and at the same time permit movement of the ball 45 within the socket thus provided in the enlarged portion 42. By the arrangement shown, the brush member 21 may turn by pivot action on the bolt 44 and at the same time a change in angularity between the brush member 21 and the bolt 44 is obtained by reason of the ball-and-socket arrangement and the resiliency of the block 43. The brush member 21 is free to pivot in a plurality of directions on the bolt 44 and thus the brush member 21 may both turn and tilt with respect to the housing 20 to which the bolt 44 is secured. It is seen that the ball 46 has a compound movement in the open space 45 upon turning and tilting of the brush member 21. The resilient block 48 permits the bolt 44 to incline at difierent angles with respect to the enlarged portion 42. The assembly provided is referred to as a pivot or flexible connection.

At the left-handend of the bar 39, shown in Figures 3, 4 and 8, there is an enlarged end portion 43. The detail of this enlarged end is shown in Figures 6 and 8, Figure 6 being an enlarged view alongthe line 65 of Figure 4. The enlarged end 43 has an open space provided therein for the reception of parts as shown in Figure 6. An insert member 5|, preferably of steel and having a semi-spherical cavity therein, is positioned centrally of the open end of the enlarged end portion 43. A bearing member 53 is centrally located to fit within this semi-spherical cavity of insert member 5|. The bearing member 53 is preferably made of hard smooth wood or other appropriate bearing material. An annular member 52, preferably of steel, having an inner shape complementary to the outer spherical shape of the bearing member 53 is press-fit into the enlarged end 43 to hold the insert member 5| and bearing member 53 in position. The outer surface of the bearing member 53 is substantially spherical and the surrounding surfaces of the members 5| and 52 are complementary thereto. The fit of the part is such that the spherical bearing member 53 is held in place but is free to freely rotate and tip in the cavity formed by members 5| and 52.

A longitudinal hole 54 extends through the spherical bearing member 53. The hole 54 accommodates one of the pins 36 and 31 extending from the revolving pulley or wheel 32, shown in detail in Figure 9. A portion of pin 31 is shown extended into the hole 54 of bearing member 53 illustrated in Figure 6. The fit of the pin member 31 in hole 54 is somewhat loose and the pin member 31 is free to rotate in the bearing member 53. It is thus seen that there is a balland-socket connection provided between the pin 31 and the enlarged end 43. The enlarged end 43 is free to rotate with respect to the pin 31 and to also change its angularity with respect to the pin 31 by reason of the ball-and-socket connection between the bearing member 53 in the concavity formed by members 5| and 52. It is to be understood that either pin 36 or pin 31 fits in the hole 54 depending upon whether the brush member 21 is the right-hand one or the left-hand one in the casing as shown in Figure 1.

The detailed construction of the wheel member 32 is shown in Figures 9 and 10. Figures 9 and 10 show the bracket portion 30 extended downwardly although as mounted in the housing it extends upwardly to engage the roof of the housing as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The housing portion has a flange 3| provided with an opening for bolting the flange to the housing 20. The bracket portion 30 is fixed and does not rotate. The rotating portion of the wheel 32 is composed of a hub portion 55 and a rim portion 56. The rim portion 56 is provided'with a suitable groove around its circumferential extent for accommodating the rubber loop belt 33. A ball-bearing mounting 51 is provided between the fixed portion 30 and the rotating portion 55 as illustrated in Figure 9 to provide for free rotation of hub portion 55 within the bracket portion 36. The rim portion 56 is thus freed to revolve with respect to the bracket 30. Pins 36 and 31 are keyed in the hub portion 55, the pins 36 and 31 being diametrically opposed and extending from opposite sides of the hub portion 55. As the belt 33 revolves the hub 55, the pins 36 and 31 revolve around and at a distance from the axis of the hub portion 55. As pin 36 revolves upwardly, pin 3'! revolves downwardly. An eccentric action is thus provided between the axis of hub portion 55 and pins 36 and 3'! extending into the holes 54 in bearing members 53 mounted in the two adjoining brush members 21.

In Figures 11, 12, and 13 there isshown a modifled structure for mounting the pivot or flexible connection 34 to the housing 20. In this modification, a bolt 62 is substituted for the threaded bolt 44 of the preferred embodiment. A mounting member 59 is bolted to the roof of the housing 20, as shown in Figure 11. Member 59 is provided with opposite slots 50 and an open space between the slots for accommodating the bolt 62. Opposing slots 63 in bolt 62 are aligned with the slot of member 59. A resilient metal clip 6| slides laterally into the slot 60 of member 59 and into slot 63 of bolt 62. in position, as shown in Figure 12, the bolt 62 is locked firmly in position. secures the pivoted or flexible connection 34 to the housing 26. Figure 12 is a sectional view through the line |2-|2 of Figure 11 and Figure 13 shows the slotted end of bolt 62. Variations in the mounting to provide ready attachment and detachment are suggested by this showing.

By the structure and arrangement of parts here illustrated and embodying a form of my invention, there is thus provided a novel and useful sweeping mechanism. Rotation of wheel 32 by belt 33 driven by a suitable power source in the cleaner causes the pins 36 and 31 to revolve the adjoining ends of the two brush members 21. This gives a swinging and tilting motion to the brush members 21 but does not rotate them as are the prior cylindrical brushes. A recurrent sweeping action is provided by this motion of revolving the brush members on the pivot connection. As one end of the brush member goes down, the other end of the brush member goes up, the ends of the brush member revolving around the ball 46 of the pivot connection 34. Also, as one end of the brush member 21 goes down and forward in the housing 20, the other endgoes backward and upward in the housing 20. The rotation of the wheel 32 is such that the sweeping motion of the brush portion 35 against the surface to be cleaned is backward, that is toward the rear of the cleaner shown in Figure 2,

while the brush 35 is in contact with the surface to be cleaned. The brush member 21 conversely moves upwardly and forwardly while out of engagement with the surface to be cleaned. For example, the right-hand end of each brush member 21 shown in Figure 1, moves backwardly while the left-hand end of each brush member 21 moves forwardly. The motion provided to the brush members is such that there is a series of rapid and relatively long sustained sweeping strokes against the surface to be cleaned. The motions are recurrent and rapid enough to thoroughly brush the surface being cleaned as the cleaner is moved at a relatively slowrate across the surface to be cleaned.

'It is particularly to be noted that the brush bristles of brush portion 35 on both brush members 21 are always disposed substantially directly downwardly toward the rug, carpet, or other surface to be cleaned. As there is no r0 tation of the brush members, thread, string, hair, yarn, and other elongated material, cannot be wound around the brushes. By reason of the vibratory oscillation of the brushes in a series of rapid brushing movements, the brushes tend to ball or wad up the elongated material into relatively solid masses which are readily and quickly brushed backwardly into the cleaner and into the container for collected dirt. The necessity for removing ensnarled and entwined elongated material from the brushes is obviated and the brushes remain relatively clean and unmatted.

, As is shown in Figure 1, brush bristles are not in contact simultaneously with the surface to be With the metal clip 6|.

The bolt 62 thus cleaned all across the width of the cleaner. However, the brush members reciprocate faster than the sweeper is moved along the surface to be cleaned, and thus, a wide sweep is obtained. There also appears to be a narrow space in the center of the cleaner not provided with brushes. However, as is generally known cleaners of this type are generally moved back and forth in different paths on each stroke so that as the cleaner is moved longitudinally back and forth all portions of the surface to be cleaned come in contact with the brushes and are thus properly swept. Although theories have been here advanced as to why my improved sweeper provides a more efficient and useful device over those previously known, I am not necessarily limited to the theories advanced.

Although I have described my invention in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A sweeping device for a cleaner having a housing adapted to be moved along a surface to be swept, said housing having an opening adapted to be disposed adjacent said surface, and a driving mechanism carried by said housing, said sweeping device comprising, in combination, a pair of sweeping members carried by said housing and arranged substantially end to end and transversely of said housing, said sweeping members having brush portions extending in a direction outwardly of said housing and adapted to contact said surface through said open bot tom, a pair of flexible mounting members connected to said housing and to each of said sweeping members to permit compound movement of the sweeping members relative to said housing, a rotating member adapted to be rotated by said driving mechanism, and diametrically disposed eccentric cam connections located at a distance longitudinal of said sweeping members from said mounting members and between said rotating member and said sweeping members for revolving said sweeping members out of phase with each other and non-rotatively on said flexible mounting members to circle a reference line passing through said mounting members and to pivotally swing on said mounting members at an acute angle to said reference line, the revolving of said sweeping members providing for recurrent movement of the said brush portions against said surface while substantially maintaining said brush portions extended in said outward direction.

2. In a sweeper having a housing, said housing having an opening in a wall thereof for exposing a surface to be swept, said sweeper having a power source carried by said housing, the combination of two brush members disposed in said housing substantially in alignment with each other and transversely of said housing, each said brush member having a brush portion extending from an edge thereof in a direction outwardly of said opening, each said brush portion having segments disposed at an angle to each other, a pivot connection substantially centrally connected to each said brush member, respectively, and to said housing, said pivot connec- ,tions providing limited movement of said brush members on a plurality of axes inclined at angles to the longitudinal axes, respectively, of said brush members, a rotatable member carried by said housing intermediate of adjacent ends of said brush members, said rotatable member being adapted to be rotated by said power source, pin members extending from opposite sides of said rotatable member and diametrically spaced from the axis of said rotatable member, said pin members being pivotally engaged to said adjacent ends of said brush members, the rotation of said rotatable member revolving said adjacent ends through said pin members about the axis of said rotatable member, the revolving of said ends swinging said brush members on said pivot connections, respectively, to alternately move the said segments of each said brush portion outwardly of said opening in recurrent sweeping engagement with said surface, the diametric disposition of said pin members providing for the revolving of said adjacent ends substantially out of phase with each other.

3. In a sweeper having a housing, said housing having an opening in a wall thereof for exposing a surface to be swept, the combination of a brush member disposed in said housing, said brush member having brush bristles adapted to extend through said opening to contact said surface, a compound pivot connection connecting said brush member and said housing, said pivot connection permitting a swinging of said brush member on said pivot connection through a conical path generated around a reference line passing through said pivot connection and disposed transversely of said sweeper parallel to said surface, a rotatable member carried by said housing, and engaging means engaging said rotatable member and said brush member at a radial distance from the axis of said rotatable member and a longitudinal distance along said brush member from said pivot connection, the rotation of said rotatable member swinging said brush member in one rotational direction on said pivot connection to recurrently move said brush bristles through said opening and across said surface in one direction.

4. In a sweeper having a housing, the housing having an opening, the combination of a longitudinal brush member adapted to extend through said opening, a ball and socket joint supporting said brush member, the normal axis of said ball and socket joint being disposed at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of said brush member, said ball and socket joint permitting swinging movement of said brush member on a plurality of axes disposed at acute angles to each other, and means carried by said housing and connected to said brush member at a radial distance from the axis of said brush member and a longitudinal distance along the axis of said brush member from said joint for moving said brush member in a unidirectional and conical recurrent path to swing the said brush member on said joint in an angular and circulatory direction, the recurrent movement of the brush member providing for unidirectional and recurrent sweeping action of the brush member at said opening.

5. In a sweeper having a housing, said housing having an elongated opening in a bottom wall thereof and transversely of said sweeper, the combination of a bar member laterally disposed in said housing, said bar member having a bottom edge, bristles extended downwardly 7 from said bottom edge at said opening, a pivot mounting carried by said housing and connected to said bar member at a longitudinal distance from a first end of said bar member, said pivot mounting providing for compound movement of said bar member, and operating means carried by the housing and operatively engaging said first end of the bar member, said operating means non-rotatively revolving said bar member in one direction around an axis passing through the center of said pivot mounting, said axis being disposed transversely of said sweeper and parallel to said opening, the movement of said bar member causing said bristles to recurrently move in a sweeping action at said opening.

6. In a sweeper having a housing, said housing having an opening in a wall thereof, the combination of a bar member laterally disposed in said housing, said bar member having a bottom edge, said bottom edge having opposite end portions disposed at an obtuse angle to each other,

and parallel to the said edge of the respective end portion, and means for operating said eccentric means, the movement of said end by said eccentric means providing for recurrent movement of the bristles of the opposite end portions alternately at said opening.

'7. In a sweeper having a housing, said housing having an opening in a wall thereof, improved sweeping means disposed at said opening, comprising the combination of a pair of brushes, a pivot support carried by the housing for each said brush, said pivot support for each brush being connected to a side of the brush intermediate of its ends and permitting compound movement of said brush, eccentric means disposed intermediate of, and adjoining adjacent ends, of said brushes, said eccentric means providing a cyclic path for said adjacent ends off center from an axis line passing through the center of said pivot supports, said adjacent ends being engaged by said eccentric means to revolve out of phase with each other, and operating means for operating said eccentric means, the movement of said adjacent ends by said eccentric means nonrotatively revolving said brushes in the path of a conical surface to provide recurrent brushing motion of said brushes at said opening.

THOMAS O. ADAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num er Name Date 1,116,850 Schmitz Nov. 10, 1914 1,160,031 Adams Nov. 9, 1915 1,470,894 Throop Oct. 16, 1923 2,107,571 Kirby Feb. 8, 1938 2,109,621 Kirby Mar. 1, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 385,669 Great Britain 1933 805,369 France 1936 

